Ocean County Tournament - Bracket
Semifinals

(6) Central 5, (7) Toms River North 2

Rich Galati hit a tie-breaking two-run single with two out in the bottom of the fourth to cap a four-run inning and senior Andre DiPiazza shut down Toms River North the rest of the way as the Golden Eagles beat the Mariners to advance the OCT championship game against Barnegat Thursday, when Central will seek its first county title since 1986.

DiPiazza allowed two unearned runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts to pick up the complete-game win. The senior right-hander and University of Alabama recruit also went 2-for-2 with two runs scored on offense.

Jeff Ciervo knocked in two runs with a single in the top of the first to stake Toms River North to a 2-0 lead.

(4) Barnegat 8, (1) Jackson Memorial 0

Sophomore left-hander Jason Groome threw a two-hitter and Nik Fraim broke a scoreless tie with a two-run double in the sixth to unleash an offensive onslaught by the Bengals over the final two innings en route to a win over the Jaguars. Barnegat will make its first ever OCT final appearrance Tuesday against Class B South rival Central at Toms River East.

Groome hit one batter in the seventh and did not walk anyone while also striking out six. He allowed only a two-out single to center by Jaguars sophomore third baseman Kyle Johnson and a leadoff single in the fifth to starting left fielder Mike Petrizzo. After allowing the leadoff man to reach in the fifth with the score still tied at 0, Groome took the out at first on a sacrifice bunt by Johnson and struck out the next two batters to end Jackson's most pressing threat of the game.

Jared Kacso followed Fraim's doubled with a two-run single to make it 4-0 and later blasted a two-run home run to left field in the seventh to cap the scoring and deliver an exclamation point on one of the biggest wins in the eight-year history of the varsity program.

 

Class A Central

Raritan 7, Rumson-Fair Haven 5 (9 Innings)

Nick Glensor homered and Brandon Bentley and Bruce Strickland each added doubles to help lead the Rockets to an extra-inning win over the Bulldogs.

 

Class B North

Matawan 6, Long Branch 1

Adam Elliot allowed an unearned run on two hits with two walks and five strikeouts over five innings and also had a single, double and two RBI to lead the Huskies past the Green Wave.

Justin Henderson gave Matawan the lead for good with a tie-breaking two-run double in the bottom of the third. Joe Piscopo added two hits and Nick Santuccio closed the game with two scoreless innings.

Nick Conklin went 2-for-3 for Long Branch.

 

Class B Central

St. Rose 11, Point Beach 1 (5 Innings)

Conor Gammond homered and reached base in all four of his plate appearances to lead the Purple Roses offense as St. Rose topped the Garnet Gulls to wrap up an unbeaten season in Class B Central.

Ryan Stewart also went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Gammond added a double and two RBI in his perfect day at the plate. Will King and freshman J.P. Traynor each went 2-for-3 for St. Rose.

Jay Criscuolo allowed one earned run on four hits to earn the win.

 

Non-Division

Ocean 6, Middletown South 3

Anthony Bartolomei allowed two runs on three hits over four innings to improve to 3-0 on the mound and also helped his cause with a double, single, two RBI and two runs scored as the Spartans beat the Eagles.

Catcher Zack Godfrey had three hits, Miles Moody had two doubles and Jimmy McGrorry added two singles for Ocean.

St. John Vianney 4, Brick Memorial 1

Chris Morris lost a no-hitter in the seventh inning and struck out 10 in a two-hitter as the Lancers eliminated the Mustangs from Shore Conference Tournament contention. Evan Pietronico, Joe Rotelli and Drew Fisher each had a hit and an RBI and Pat Devenney was 2-for-3 in the win.

Lacey 3, Manchester 2

Connor Rooney lost a no-hit bid in the sixth inning on a bunt single by Devin Tomen, but the Lions rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh, capped by a game-winning single by Eric Reitmeyer, to win the game and eliminate the Hawks from the Shore Conference Tournament.

Dan Phillips led the seventh off with a single and scored the winning run on Reitmeyer's line drive to center field. Anthony Elefante added an RBI double and Anthony Ruggerio finished 2-for-4.

Rooney lasted six innings and allowed only one hit while striking out eight.

Holmdel at Middletown North, Noon

Toms River East 1, Jackson Liberty 0

Dan Serreino lost a no-hit bid in the seventh inning and the Raiders made the most of one hit in beating the Lions.

St. Rose at CBA, 2 p.m.

Manasquan 10, Brick Memorial 3

 

 

Non-Conference

Old Bridge 4, Wall 0

Tyler Swiggart struck out nine walked none and allowed just one earned run on five hits, but the Knights took advantage of three Wall errors by scoring three unearned runs to beat the Crimson Knights. Dan Wondrack went 2-for-2 at the plate n defeat.

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